It certainly makes sense that the two teams are talking. The Jackets are in win-now mode and could use a top center. Given they already have Zach Werenski, Seth Jones, Jack Johnson, and David Savard on the back end, Murray is somewhat expendable.

The Avs, meanwhile, are desperate to upgrade their defense. Though Murray has fallen short of expectations since being drafted second overall in 2012, he’s still fairly young at just 23 years old.

All that said, GM Joe Sakic has options beyond the Jackets’ offer. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Nashville Predators have also made an offer, and other teams are still calling.

The day before July 1, the New Jersey Devils might be the favorites to sign defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.

When the market officially opens tomorrow, Shattenkirk, 28, will be the consensus best player available. All year long, most observers expected the New Rochelle, New York, native to sign with the Rangers.

But the Blueshirts may have other plans. Clearly, GM Jeff Gorton wants to get younger. He acquired 21-year-old Anthony DeAngelo in the Derek Stepan trade with Arizona, and DeAngelo’s game is a lot like Shattenkirk’s — albeit far less proven at the NHL level.

The Buffalo Sabres were another team linked to Shattenkirk. But the Sabres today got Marco Scandella from Minnesota. And besides, they’ve already got a right-shooting, power-play quarterback in Rasmus Ristolainen.

Which brings us back to New Jersey. The Devils had all sorts of trouble scoring goals last season, and that’s something Shattenkirk could help. By himself, Shattenkirk had eight power-play goals in 2016-17. Meanwhile, the Devils’ d-men combined for just two — one by Andy Greene, the other by John Moore.

Where Shattenkirk ends up, we’ll have to wait and see for sure. The Tampa Bay Lightning could make a play for him. And the Bolts, unlike the Devils, could offer a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup in the next year or two.

A number of NHL players are on waivers today for the purposes of being bought out.

Let’s start with New Jersey winger Mike Cammalleri, who has two years left on his deal with a cap hit of $5 million. Buying him out will mean a cap hit of $1.67 million over the next four years. The 35-year-old had just 10 goals in 61 games last season, and the Devils are expected to be active tomorrow in free agency.

New Jersey will also buy out the final year of winger Devante Smith-Pelly’s contract.

Scandella, 27, has three years left on his contract with a cap hit of $4 million. He had four goals and nine assists in 71 games last season, averaging 18:20 of ice time. Compared to previous campaigns, it was not a great season for him.

But the Sabres badly need to upgrade their defense, and they also get Pominville, the 34-year-old winger who spent his prime years in Buffalo. Pominville has two years left on his deal with a cap hit of $5.6 million. He had 13 goals in 78 games last season.

As for the players headed to Minnesota, Foligno is a 25-year-old winger coming off a 13-goal season of his own. He’s also a restricted free agent.

Ennis, a first-round draft pick in 2008, is the bigger name. But the 27-year-old has had all sorts of trouble staying healthy. Last season, he had just five goals in 51 games. He’s signed for two more years at a cap hit of $4.6 million.